Method of fireproofing aircraft parts



P. R. BRADLEY. METHOD 0F FIREPROOFING AIRCRAFT PARTS. AEPLLCATION FILED 001215, 1919.

, @www W Patented '22, 1921. 1

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N l l l? yn srarss CPAM/EEE ItCHARlDSON BRADLEY, OF EAST GRANGE, NlllW JERSEY.

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j BIETE-IUD @E FIIREPROQFING- AIRCFtAflT PARTS.

inname@ To all whom t may concern.

Beit known that l, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of East Orange, in the county'of Essex and State of New Jersey, have invented aV new and llmproved Method of Fireproong Aircraft ljarts, of which the following is a deV scri tion.

y invention relates to iiresproofing aircraft parts, and has for its object to provide means for the protection of cloth and other parts of air-craft from carbonization by the excessive heat of a long continuous blaze.

" Additional objects ofthe invention will appear in the following specification Ain` which the, preferred form of my invention is disclosed. l

` ln the drawings similar reference characters referj to similar parts in all the figures in which-- Y ,Y j Figure lisa sectional view of an air-craft wing.

line 2--2 of Fig. l, lfig. 3 is a `fra entary lsectional lview illustrating a modified form of the lnvention. Y

While the drawings show the invention as applied to a wing of an airplane,l it will be understood that the invention is also of value in the construction of rudders, elevators, as

tract the cloth to a smooth, drum-Mitel water-proof surface, and this cloth is not usually lire proof unless re-proofed by one of my methods such as myv algginic` acid-prod kess described in my application having Se rial .#224,076, or the process disclosed in my Patent #1309453. It is advisable toapply one of. these methods for treating the fabrios when the inventionwhich is the subject matter of the present application is employed. o

It has proofing processes protect the fabric from rethey d0 not protect the fabric as well as desired from being carbonized by the eXcesf PARKER Rrniinnnm Fig. *Z'is an enlargedsectional-view on the been found that while my said ref Specification of Letters Patent. 'Pgmyjjjid lwap, 22, 1921,

Application lfiled Uetober l5, 19Al9. Serial lo. '330,?l9.

While under ordinary circumstances theV ignition of small quantities of oil or gasolene Vwill not carbonite or injure fire-proof surfaces, under exceptional circumstances gasolene or oil may collect, form small puddles on the iireproof surface,` and should this become ignited such a great heat is generated that the fabricar other part may be carbonized 'and thereby weakened where the fire occurs.

It will also be understood that under unusual conditions the fabric or other part of an aircraft may be subjectedA to a long and fierce heat which may tend to carbonize the fabric or` other part. My invention when used avoids this possible danger.

In'carrying out my invention l prefer to lire-proof all the wooden parts and also reproof the fabric; The fire-proofed Vcloth is then drawn citer the yframe which is usually Vof wood, in the usualmanner ,and lirm-proof ff dope is applied and dried.

Several coatings of `this dope may be used,-and metal foil may be employed as set forth in my said Patent :li-1309453 of July s, 1919.

When this has 4been done 'fire-proofed strips ofwood or other material are securelyv fastened to thev outer surfaces of the doped cloth, at points where the doped cloth contacts with the frame rl`here is now appliedasheet of asbestos or other fire-proof material and over the outer surfaces of the asbestos' sheet a ire-proofed fabric is disposed andis treated with fire-proof dope 1n amanner readily understood by those familiar with the art.

In this manner the inner fabric on the frame' is protected bythe asbestos sheet and the air spaces,' should a fire occur ion the' outer fabric which is sufficient to carbonize the latter. j f.

By referring to the drawings it will be seen .that the usual frame 5 is emplo ed and and which is preferably treated by fire-proof dope and may be protected still further by' the metal foil referred to. W l

. The strips 7 vare disposed on the outer side *Y of the fabric 6, adjacent members of the sive heat cfa 10110', continuous blaze. This is' so for while the lfire-proof fabric and other ,i parts can not catch fire or burn, nevertheframe 5 and over this frame which may be 1n the form of a lattice there is disposed an asbestos sheet 8.

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.on this frame 2 thereA is a fire-proof l abri-c 6, 'd

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- The strips 7 of the lattice form air-spaces Y :9 between the fabric 6 and the asbestos sheet- Over the asbestos Asheet 8vthere is disposed a fabriclO .which is treated with fireproof dope l1.

In 'all the modified form of the invention shown inFig. 3, of the drawin the asbes.

l tos sheet 8 is disposed against t einner fab- 1 ric 6, andthere, 10

is an alr-space -12 between the asbestos sheet 8 and the outer fabric 10, the strips 7 of the lattice being disposed between the asbestos sheet 8 and the outer fabric'10.

' In other respects theA modified form of `the invention illustratedl in Fig. 3 of the drawings corresponds withv the invention as it is illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2.` v It will 'be understood that where the fabrics are drawn tightly around a bend inthe frame such, as at theedge of the wings of anai'rplane it is impossibleto provide a Very great air-space and that thereforeL it is desirable to apply a much thicker layer of asbestos or other sheet of 'than is found necessary atotller parts of the aircraft member.

' y improvement'inaddition to increasing the fire-resisting quality wings and othen arts of the air-craft, also increases the stre th and'lifting 'power of the wings, and 'it lwill also be understood that this' double,covering permits of the use ofthe Non the inner fabric, fire-proof clopes inner` fabric a vbeeonstructd of wood which is re-proofed, or may be constructed of asbestos hollow. fi

burning dope which will not'stand the weather or Sun- -light,-it being possible to make use on the -glueor la mixture of cheap glue and shellac, or a dope fire-proofed with zine chlorid or similar substances. It is also possible to treat the inner fabric with a slow-burning dope such as the wellknown cellulose acetate dope but if this should be done, it is extremely important that the outer fabric be treated with a firelproof dope It will also be understood that it is .possible totreat the outer fabric with a slowand the inner fabric with a fire-proof dope but this does not provide the same'safety.l

he members 7 of the lattice framev may metal or o ther fire-proof material.\

It will be understood .that whilerthe invention is above,'described with reference to its use on aiijifcraft wings thatit may also be used'in the construction of fuselages rudders,andfother parts of air-craft.

" I-Ia'vlng thus described my invention I claim as new. and desire to secure by Letters Patent i i.

1 In an. aircraft, a frame, a fabric over frame a second fabric at the outer surface of th and thereby proof sheet disposed fire-proof material greatly V and means to support the second e first fabric, and spaced Vfrom .the latter, a fire-proof sheet between thevtwo means to support the second fabric at a sufficient distance from the first fabric, to provide air-spaces between the'fire proof sheet and one of the fabrics prevent the carbonization of the inner fabric should gasolene burn on the outer fabric.

` 2. In an air-craft, a non-metallic member, a'fabric member, at the outer surface of the first member and spaced from the latter, a fire-proof s ieet between the two-members and means to support the second member at a sufficient distance from the first member to provide air-spaces between the fire-proof sheet and one ofthe members and thereby prevent the carbonization of the non-me tallie member should gasolene burn on the fabric member.

3. In an air-craft a member, a fabric member spaced from the first member, a firebetween the two members, and strips between the fire-proof sheet and one of the members to provide airspaces and thereby prevent the carbonization of the fabric member should gasolene burn on the first-mentioned member.

'4. In an air-craft, a frame. a fabric disposedfover the frame, a second fabric at the outer surface of the first fabric, a fire-proof sheet disposed between the two fabrics, and strips adjacent portions of the frame for holding one `of the fabrics spaced from the asbestos sheet and thereby prevent the earbonization of the first fabric should gasolene burn on the second fabric.

5. n an aircraft, na-non-metallicanember, a fire-proof -fabric member at the outer surface of the first member, and means to hold the second member spaced from the first memberand thereby prevent the carbonization of the `non-metallic member should 'gasolene burn on the second-inentioned member.

6. In an air-craft, a non-metallic member, a fire-proof fabric member at the outer surface of the first member, a fire-proof sheet disposed between the two members, means to hold one of the members spaced from the fire-proof sheet.

fabrics, and

. In 'an air-craft, a non-metallic member..

a second member at the outer surface ofthe r'st member, and spaced from the latter, a fire-proof 'sheet between the two members member at a sufficient distance from the first member, to provide air spaces between the fire-proof sheet and one of the members and thereby prevent the carbonization of the non-metallic member should gasolene burn on the second-mentioned member.

8. In ano air-craft, a fire proof fabric member, a second re-proof member at the outer surface of the first member, and spaced from the latter, a fire-proof sheet between the two members and means to support the second member at a suiieient-dstance from louter surface of the first fire-proof member the first member to provide air spaces 'between the reroof sheet and `oI1e of the two fire-proof members and thereby premembers and t ereby prevent the carbon- Vent 'the earbonzetion of the fabic member zaton of the fabric member should asolene' lshould gasolene burn on the `second-menburn on the second-mentioned mem in utioned member.

9. In en air-craft, a fire-prooi'V fabric Y member, a second fire-proof member at the w l PARKER IMCHMJSON BRADLEY.

and an asbestos sheet disposed between the 10 

